Courtesy of Kyle Zajac
- Kyle Zajac, a 22-year-old server, earns thousands of tips weekly at an upscale steakhouse.
- Zajac dropped out of college to focus on a higher-paying server job and doesn't regret his choice.
- Despite unconventional hours, Zajac is content with his income and job flexibility.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kyle Zajac, a 22-year-old server based in Indianapolis. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Ever since my first shift as a restaurant server in 2020, I've tracked my hours and tips in an Excel spreadsheet.
You might not think that waiting tables pays well, but it's different at the top and a far cry from my fast-food attendant days when I earned less than $8 an hour. Back then, I couldn't wait to be old enough to get a server position where I could earn tips.
As soon as I turned 18, I took a part-time job as a server at Cracker Barrel where I earned between $14-17 an hour in tips, in addition to $2.13 an hour, the minimum cash wage that the US Department of Labor requires employers to pay tipped employees.
Now, I work as a server at an upscale steakhouse, and I bring home thousands in tips each week.
I learned quickly that college wasn't for me
When I applied to college and was offered some financial aid, I enrolled despite having no clue what I wanted to study.
It was the middle of the pandemic and since my family lived close to campus, I decided to remain at home with my parents.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all my classes were online. I felt completely disconnected and began skipping classes and struggling to turn assignments in on time.
Two semesters in, I dropped out. Since I wasn't taking my studies seriously, I figured all college was guaranteed to do was push me into debt. I left and picked up more hours at Cracker Barrel.
Without school, I looked for a higher-paying server role
When I turned 19, I was legally permitted to serve alcoholic beverages in a restaurant, so I decided to look for a higher-paying server job.
I took a job at The Cheesecake Factory where I averaged $25 an hour in tips. During the year I worked there, I began applying for upscale server jobs.
One evening while dining at an upscale steakhouse, I approached the manager about a server assistant position I'd seen posted online. I was 20 years old and had no fine dining experience, so the role seemed ideal for getting my foot in the door.
I got the job and was promoted to a server position within five months, becoming the youngest server in the steakhouse. My coworkers who were mostly in their 30s joked that I wasn't even old enough to drink the cocktails I was serving.
I average nearly $1,500 in tips per week
Courtesy of Kyle Zajac
These days, I work a 30-hour, five-day workweek and on average earn between $1,200-$1,500 a week in tips after tip-out. Tip-out requires all servers to contribute 4% of our shift's tips to our bussers, food runners, and hosts.
My company offers an employer-matched 401(k) which I take full advantage of by contributing the maximum contribution. I earn PTO and am eligible for dental, vision, and health insurance, but since I can stay on my parent's insurance until I'm 26, I don't use those benefits.
The steakhouse is located near a convention center, so we tend to get a lot of convention-goers. Whenever I'm assigned to a big group of well-dressed guys wearing convention lanyards for dinner, I know I hit the jackpot.
Recently, thanks to a convention, I took home $2,400 in tips in one week, and the week before I earned $1,800. My single biggest week to date was $2,690 after working 33 hours over six days.
June and July are our slower months because there aren't any conventions. I had a week last summer where I worked 28 hours over five days and only made $865 in tips but that's still $30 an hour, so I'm not complaining.
Here's how I earn the most tips possible
You have to know how to read people's body language and how they react when you approach them. When you get to work, leave everything else behind. No one cares if you're having a bad day. You're there to ensure the guest has a great time.
When I approach a table, I greet them and ask if they've dined with us before. If they're coming from a convention, I might ask where they're from. Some people want to engage in conversation and even joke around while others want to have pretty minimal contact which is fine, too.
I recently served a table of eight guys whose check totaled $860. They barely spoke to me, so I just made sure to keep their table maintained. They left me a $1,200 tip.
The opposite end of the spectrum is getting assigned an 18th birthday reservation because it's almost guaranteed they won't tip at all. Teenagers don't seem to have any issue with hitting "no tip" on the screen and the auto-gratuity at the steakhouse only kicks in for parties of eight or more.
The hardest part is the schedule
The toughest part of the job is that I work nights and weekends when all my friends are going out. Sometimes after I finish a dinner shift, I'll meet up with some of my coworkers at a local bar and hang out for a bit.
As for college, dropping out when I did was the best thing I could've done. I can't see myself going back anytime soon. It would be like taking a pay cut.
I make more than most of my friends and have zero debt. I recently bought myself a 2022 Ford Ranger and I could afford to take time off and go to the Philippines and Europe on vacation last year.
I'm happy where I'm at right now and plan to continue living at home, serving, and saving money.